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HomeIndia Travel GuideMumbaiAttractions

    An Essential Guide to Mumbai’s Bandra Worli Sea Link

    The capital city of Maharashtra, and the commercial capital of the country, Mumbai is popularly known for two things- the entertainment industry and the Arabian Sea. Over the Arabian Sea, runs one of the largest bridges of the country called the Bandra Worli Sea Link. Also known as Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link, it significantly adds on to one of the most beautiful attractions in the city.

    Quick History

    Earlier, the Mahim Causeway was the only route for joining Mumbai’s main trade points to the western suburban areas. With the increased congestion, The Western Freeway Project was launched, which would cover the entire western coastline. The Bandra Worli Sea Link in Mumbai is a part of this Western Freeway Project, built over the Mahim Bay as the joining bridge, which gave the travelers a better option over Mahim Causeway.

    The project of building the Mumbai Bandra Worli Sea Link was instructed to Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited (MSRDC). The construction agreement was given to Hindustan Construction Company (HCC) and the project management was done efficiently by the UK Offices of Dar Al - Hadassah.

    The first step towards the construction of Mumbai Bandra Worli Sea Link was initiated by BAL Thackeray in 1999. However, the project had the obstructions of diverse public interest litigations, which delayed the construction time by five years and elevated the construction price. Finally, the project was completed in 2009-2010 and the inauguration was done by Sonia Gandhi.

    The Architecture of the Bandra Worli Sea Link, Mumbai

    Being the first cable-stayed bridge to have been created over the Arabian Sea, the Bandra Worli Sea Link in Mumbai is an architectural marvel built by a team of engineers from several international countries.

    Fundamentally, the bridge is constructed with the prestressed concrete steel overpass on either of the sides. It is made of pylon towers and has a specialized geometry to accustom the geology of the sea bed.

    The Bandra Worli Sea Link is constructed with the incorporation of seismic arresters, which builds a strong safety from Earthquakes till the Richter scale number 7. It is the first project to be earthquake resistant in Mumbai.

    Connecting Points

    Bandra Worli Sea Link connects Bandra from the Western suburbs of Mumbai to Worli which is in the Southern Mumbai. Further, it might also connect to Nariman Point, which is the prime center, as proposed. Built over Mahim Bay, this sea link makes the travel in the city more convenient and faster for about 37, 500 vehicles, by reducing the travelling time from 40 minutes to 10-15 minutes.  

    Rules and Regulations

    There are strong rules pertaining to the kind of vehicles which will be given allowance over the Bandra Worli Sea Link. Therefore, it is extremely important to understand that the bridge does not have a footpath. So, walking over the bridge is strictly prohibited. Animals, two-wheelers, and three-wheelers are also not allowed. Four wheelers like cars, heavy vehicles and buses are the only forms of travelling vehicles are not allowed.

    Toll Fare

    The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited (MSRDC) will have toll collection as per single journey, return journey or monthly pass, for crossing the Bandra Worli Sea Link, till 2052. Also, after every three years, the toll tax prices will be upgraded. The updated fares as per 2018 are enlisted.

    •  For the single journey, the Cars and SUV will be charged with INR 70, Tempo and Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) will pay INR 110 and for Bus and Trucks will be INR 145.

    •  For the return journey or two-way toll charges, the Cars and SUV will be charged with INR 105, Tempo and Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) will pay INR 165 and for Bus and Trucks will be INR 215.

    •  For the monthly journey, the Cars and SUV will be charged with INR 3,500, Tempo and Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) will pay INR 5500 and for Bus and Trucks will be INR 7250.


    Security Provisions

    The Bandra Worli Sea Link is highly equipped with reference to system monitoring, CCTV surveillance, information guidance, and emergency support. MSRDC has developed an automated operating system that can detect vehicles exceeding the speed of 50 km/h (21mi/h) with efficient cameras which can capture images of the vehicles within the radius of 1.5 kilometres. And, the cameras can rotate completely 360 degrees for capturing the image.

    The bridge also has two special cameras placed underneath, to monitor the movement of boats and ships around. Also, this sea link has witnessed a number of ghastly suicides despite the CCTV cameras and strong fencing.

    Improving the Quality of Life Around

    The construction of this 5.6-kilometre (3.5mi) long bridge only adds on to the quality of the environment and life of the people in the city. It has reduced the number of accidents, and induced stress-free and smooth driving. After the construction of the Bandra -Worli Sea Link, the proportion of carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide has significantly reduced along the existing roads and parts of Worli, Dadar, Prabhadevi, and Mahim. The noise pollution has reduced in the surrounding regions of the city. Also, no marine line, fisheries, and livelihood of fishermen have been affected.

    For the More Attractive View of Bandra Worli Sea Link

    The sea-link has two admiring faces. A part of this marvelous bridge can be enjoyed from Worli Sea face and the best of this mesmerizing view can be seen through Bandra Bandstand.

    Worli Sea Face is the edge where the Sea-link terminates over the Arabian Sea. The last lapse of the Sea-link can be seen moving forward mingling with the orange-yellow-peach-brown shades of the sun’s hold in the sky and the reflection of these colours in the simmering waves of the sea touching the shore.

    See more about Aksa Beach on the Shorelines of the Arabian Sea


    Bandra Bandstand, has a raised seating, around the small fort it encompasses along with the zig-zag rocks. One can simply sit there and keep the eyes glued at that face of the Sea-link emerging from Bandra with the turn the bridge takes over the sea. The rapid movement of vehicles beneath the dome of wires is the actual view with seawater flowing below and reaching the shore. When the dusk starts darkening the sky, the lights of the bridge and the headlights of the constantly moving vehicles give the most enchanting view of the city of dreams.

    From a fraction of second to the lap of 60 minutes, time simply halts marveling at the Bandra Worli Sea - Link shimmering with luminant lights of the commuting vehicles, the cool breeze arising when the humidity of the city settles for the day and the smell of the salty sea. All of this makes the stunning Bandra Worli Sea Link ooze out a very solid and charming ambience, which is nothing less than the San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.

    A traveler’s journey in the city of glamour and dreams, in Mumbai, completes only after crossing this illuminating marvelous bridge, Bandra Worli Sea Link, at least once.